Lina Soualem
French-Palestinian-Algerian filmmaker and actress, born and based in Paris. After studying History and Political Science at La Sorbonne University, Lina worked as a programmer for the International Human Rights Film Festival in Buenos Aires. Lina’s debut feature documentary, Their Algeria, premiered at the Visions du Réel International Film Festival 2020. Their Algeria received more than a dozen awards, such as the First Film Award in CINEMED, the Best Arab Documentary award at El Gouna Film Festival, and the Best Documentary Award at Cinemania Film Festival 2021. Lina acted in three feature films directed by Hafsia Herzi, Hiam Abbass, and Rayhana. In 2020, she worked as a researcher and writing coordinator on the series OUSSEKINE (Disney+). Her second feature-length documentary, Bye Bye Tiberias, premiered in 2023 at The 80th Venice International Film Festival and then got selected at TIFF, BFI London Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival, IDFA, DOC NYC, RIDM, Palm Springs & more. The film received several awards such as the Best Documentary Award at the BFI and the Jury Prize at the Marrakech International Film Festival. Bye Bye, Tiberias was chosen to represent Palestine at the Oscars 2024 and was nominated as Best Documentary at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards.
